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So who's ready to tithe to Yea Alabama Collective?
Posted on 1/19/24 at 12:07 pm
Posted on 1/19/24 at 12:07 pm
I saw that post yesterday and it made me chuckle but essentially that is what all these general fan facing collectives are asking in a fashion. Maybe not 10% pretax like your church, but still they expect you to make a long term recurring payment.
I grew up an hour from UA and was an Alabama fan my whole life. I graduated from there and worked there for a bit too. My earliest memory of football was sitting on my grandpa's lap and watching Alabama win the 1993 Sugar Bowl.
But I've got to be completely honest: if Alabama's play in the NIL era is to build a roster salary pool on the backs of the middle to upper-middle class making small to medium sized recurring donations, I'm out. If I'm putting my hard-earned money towards sending kids to college, it's going to be for my own kid's 529 not some other young man's NIL direct deposit.
I don't think I'm alone with this feeling. No other popular commercial sport asks the fans to directly pay for the product on the field. That's the organization's problem, not the fans. I understand that the core problem is that the schools cannot directly compensate the players but I just don't think that is the broad middle of the fanbase's job to make up for solvable legislative and bureaucratic failings.
I'm a big Alabama fan. I want all the best for the athletes competing at my alma mater but if seeing championships in football means parting with my own money so a 17yo can drive a nicer car than me then I reckon we can just be 8-4.
I grew up an hour from UA and was an Alabama fan my whole life. I graduated from there and worked there for a bit too. My earliest memory of football was sitting on my grandpa's lap and watching Alabama win the 1993 Sugar Bowl.
But I've got to be completely honest: if Alabama's play in the NIL era is to build a roster salary pool on the backs of the middle to upper-middle class making small to medium sized recurring donations, I'm out. If I'm putting my hard-earned money towards sending kids to college, it's going to be for my own kid's 529 not some other young man's NIL direct deposit.
I don't think I'm alone with this feeling. No other popular commercial sport asks the fans to directly pay for the product on the field. That's the organization's problem, not the fans. I understand that the core problem is that the schools cannot directly compensate the players but I just don't think that is the broad middle of the fanbase's job to make up for solvable legislative and bureaucratic failings.
I'm a big Alabama fan. I want all the best for the athletes competing at my alma mater but if seeing championships in football means parting with my own money so a 17yo can drive a nicer car than me then I reckon we can just be 8-4.
This post was edited on 1/19/24 at 12:09 pm
Posted on 1/19/24 at 12:10 pm to Diego Ricardo
I look at it this way. It’s your money, you earned it, you can spend on whatever you want. Even on foolish things, but it doesn’t matter it’s your money
But sense your asking… Absolutely no, I would not give my money to basically a child still just to encourage him to come play football at Bama.
But sense your asking… Absolutely no, I would not give my money to basically a child still just to encourage him to come play football at Bama.
This post was edited on 1/19/24 at 12:16 pm
Posted on 1/19/24 at 12:12 pm to hwyman108
quote:
I look at it this way. It’s your money, you earned it, you can spend on whatever you want. Even on foolish things, but it doesn’t matter it’s your money
Good point. I don't begrudged anyone on how they spend their discretionary money. I just don't think I'm alone in my feelings on this stuff. I'm not telling anyone they're wrong for supporting their school's NIL collective. I'm just stating that I won't be doing it.
Posted on 1/19/24 at 12:14 pm to Diego Ricardo
I don't think Yea Alabama is going to move the needle. It's fine to be able to give guys something, but I think you move the needle with your biggest boosters getting on board with endorsements through their businesses, car dealerships connected to the University giving leases, etc.
Posted on 1/19/24 at 12:31 pm to Diego Ricardo
Yeah I honestly find it kind of offensive. For the fans this is all just entertainment, but asking people to put their money towards funding a system where that money can be pocketed and carried right on over to Austin, Columbus, or Athens at the drop of a hat is more akin to gambling than buying a ticket to a theme park.
Posted on 1/19/24 at 12:32 pm to Bham Bammer
quote:
but I think you move the needle with your biggest boosters getting on board with endorsements through their businesses, car dealerships connected to the University giving leases, etc.
Mercedes-Benz has more money than God. They could give a few million and never miss it.
Posted on 1/19/24 at 12:33 pm to Diego Ricardo
I’m not giving, but in the big scheme of things, I’m a poor
Posted on 1/19/24 at 12:50 pm to Robot Santa
quote:
Yeah I honestly find it kind of offensive. For the fans this is all just entertainment, but asking people to put their money towards funding a system where that money can be pocketed and carried right on over to Austin, Columbus, or Athens at the drop of a hat is more akin to gambling than buying a ticket to a theme park.
Pretty much agree with this ^^ and most posts in the thread. Its more than a little off-putting to even be asked to GIVE money to kids who will be given MORE money to play "College" football than I earn in my job - AND to guys who can walk out the door at almost any time.
I Do NOT begrudge them being paid! And I'm NOT trying to tell anyone else what to do with their money - that's not the issue.
But UA football is a "for profit" business venture. I'd no more "Donate" to it than I'd donate to Exxon or Microsoft.
Roll Tide.
Posted on 1/19/24 at 12:57 pm to BamaGradinTn
quote:
Mercedes-Benz has more money than God. They could give a few million and never miss it.
I think the problem there is US HQ is Atlanta, GA and world HQ is Stuttgart, Germany. Maybe M-B of Birmingham and Tuscaloosa dealerships could lend a hand, but Mercedes-Benz itself couldn't give a shite to part with money solely to help Alabama football. Maybe they are interested in helping Stuttgart FC but judging by their success, I'm guessing they're more Bayern Munich types.
Posted on 1/19/24 at 1:01 pm to Diego Ricardo
Well Saban owns a few Mercedes dealerships. Maybe he can help his old school out.
Posted on 1/19/24 at 1:06 pm to Diego Ricardo
My opinion is, frick these little entitled shits. Id rather college football burn down than these little frickers make this kind of money for nothing, especially my money
Posted on 1/19/24 at 1:09 pm to narddogg81
quote:
Id rather college football burn down
We aren't far from it. It's minor league football masquerading as CFB right now, but in a couple years when these guys become employees, the mask will really be off. And the sport will die.
Posted on 1/19/24 at 1:09 pm to Diego Ricardo
Id rather Bama play frat boys and lose 200-0 every game than send a dollar to a NIL program. At least I had the memories of when CFB was real
Posted on 1/19/24 at 1:09 pm to Woody4daTide9
The NFL needs a farm system like baseball. College sports should be for amateurs. I know there has been money under the table forever in college sports, but at least there was some semblance of amateurism. I have been a fan all my life. The Harvard vs. Yale game is still a big deal to their fans. The amount of money paid coaches should stop too. If coaches want to build relationship with boosters and fans to make money fine. This is how Coach Bryant made most of his money. We do know about the relationship between snowballs and hell which applies to this scenario. I read recently that baseball is getting more players than ever out of colleges. To show how times have changed I know for a fact there were times in Alabama's past that coaches asked parents to pay them so their kid could play. The coaches did not make much money in those days.
Posted on 1/19/24 at 1:34 pm to Diego Ricardo
I couldn't imagine doing such a thing.
Posted on 1/19/24 at 1:41 pm to Diego Ricardo
And you can bet your arse some of these things will end up as scams and the people running them lining their pockets and taking extravagant "donor meeting" trips. There is absolutely no control or monitoring of these things. I am sure the Yea Alabama site is legit, but it only takes one bad or desperate person to compromise it.
I am retired now and have some disposable income, but there is no way I am going to support this. I'll do something else on weekends in the Fall.
I am retired now and have some disposable income, but there is no way I am going to support this. I'll do something else on weekends in the Fall.
Posted on 1/19/24 at 1:57 pm to hwyman108
quote:
I look at it this way. It’s your money, you earned it, you can spend on whatever you want. Even on foolish things, but it doesn’t matter it’s your money But sense your asking… Absolutely no, I would not give my money to basically a child still just to encourage him to come play football at Bama.
All of this
Posted on 1/19/24 at 2:06 pm to hwyman108
quote:
I would not give my money to basically a child still just to encourage him to come play football at Bama.
...who might spend it on a Lambo then transfer.
Not no, but hell no.
If only I'd been blessed the DNA to play football for Alabama. Can you imagine running out of that tunnel? Traveling with the team? The pride and prestige?
And have my housing and tuition and virtually all expenses paid?
Wouldn't that be great?
But it wasn't enough.
No. frick no. I'm not giving money to that.
Posted on 1/19/24 at 2:47 pm to Grievous Angel
My God. We're screwed.
Do I hear 1%?
Do I hear 1%?
Posted on 1/19/24 at 4:48 pm to Diego Ricardo
I give God 10%, not about to give Bama football 10%.
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